Friday 20 April 2012

The Kitchen Garden


In the kitchen garden I have planted my seed potatoes (Duke of York). Each day I search for signs of new baby leaves emerging. It looks very neat and tidy without any weeds but now we have had so much rain I'm sure the weeds will jump up to say “hello”.
I have planted 2 rows of broad beans plants that I have had growing in the greenhouse and tied them to little willow sticks that I have cut from our hedgerows last year. It has been very windy here so I don’t want them being bullied by big gusts of wind and thrashings of rain. It is possibly not the best time to have transplanted, but I thought they might do better with natural rain settling them in.
I have a few rows of garlic planted; some I have bought from the supermarket which I thought might be successful and also 3 elephant bulbs. I have never tried growing these before.



Garlic growing in the greenhouse



Freshly planted in bed


 The kale has started to go to seed but I will definitely grow it again. It’s been so good in stews, raw in salads and lovely in omelettes and quiches. The girls in the orchard love it also they rush up and snatch it before I have even let go of it.


Kale



Lovely Purple Sprouting Broccoli
The purple sprouting broccoli is in full growth alert with plenty to be picked on each plant. I have been boiling and steaming it. Boiling makes it loose it colour so I thought I would give a try at dying some sheep’s wool or interlining to see if the colour will catch. I do enjoy taking my trug and picking a basket full. I have also put a few batches in the freezer.




The rhubarb is growing well and we have had some tasty crumbles with it. It has such a lovely bright green leaf with eye-catching red stems. It looks so pretty with puddles of fresh rain collected in the robust leaves. I have had one plant where I have had to remove a flower head. Hopefully it will produce tasty stems.




Well we have lots of plans to be in the garden this weekend but think we will be dashing in-between April rain showers. These cloud burst make good stops for a nice cup of coffee while planning where the spade and fork will dig next. Will be in-touch soon. Have a super weekend. Take care and enjoy life.


10 comments:

  1. i have planted garlic for the first time this year
    x

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  2. My Sweetie has started a little veggie garden, hope his plants do as well as yours. Hope you get a lot of garlic, we love it.

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    1. Hope all goes well with the veggie garden. Is lovely to be able to grow your own.

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  3. Love that purple broccoli! I've never seen these - how fun! Your kale looks wonderful, too. Good luck with the weeding. My vegetable bed always has tons of them!

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    1. This is the first time I have grown purple broccoli. It is in the ground for a long time, but well worth the wait.Its really tasty raw also.

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  4. Hello dear Susan! What a fantastic garden you have! It is so healthy and vibrant! I need to start a veggie garden again! Thank you for the inspiration! Your blog is lovely! I hope you were able to get everything planted in between the rain showers! Have a lovely day! xo~Paula

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    1. Hi Paula
      Many thanks for popping by. Your David Austin roses are beautiful.

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  5. I am so impressed you grow your own potatoes! I've heard they are a challenge and the soil and 'hills' have to be just so, I hope you will keep us updated on those. You must be a wonderful cook!
    Best
    Julie

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    1. Hi Julie
      I was very excited yesterday to see a few baby potato leaves appearing. I love all types of cooking and trying different recipes. Your pottery is adorable.

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It would lovely to receive your comments, hear about what you do and where you live. Thank you for visiting me here in the Orchard, I will reply as soon as I can. Do visit again. Many happy times.
Sarah xx